I went to Turkey 6 weeks ago and had my HT, they extracted 5000 hairs. Is my hair over harvested? (photo)

Question

My donor area still looks very bad and doesn't look like hair is growing properly. I have the feeling it's over harvested. The advised that I would have shock hair loss but this doesn't look like shock loss.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

5000 grafts seem like an extreme amount of harvesting as it shows on the photos you provide.  Based on Dr. Rassman's article it would seem it is over harvested.

Munir Somji, BSc, MBBS · Answer

This appears to be a combination of telegenic effluvium as well as over harvesting. Some of the effluvium is permanent therefore you have limited options to cover the area. I doubt that you have had 5000 hairs transplanted rather 5000 grafts. 5000 grafts in one session is in my view completely inappropriate for a number of reasons. Please consult the doctor/non medical individual that treated you for further examination and advice. Hopefully scalp micropigmentation may give you coverage over  the donor site.

Christopher Varona, DO · Answer

5000 grafts is a large number so overharvesting could be an issue. But when I look at the bare areas in the pics, you can see very faint distinct punch scars within the bare areas. And the bare area extends outside of these punch scars. To me it looks like telogen effluvium between punches. I would wait 4-6 months and monitor it and you should get some regrowth of the donor area.

Ilhan Serdaroglu, MD · Answer

Unfortunatelly it is very bad job. Sometimes  there may be such a early phase alopecic, bald spots  in donor areas after FUE surgery,  but  most are transient. İt may happen because of over harvesting or transient post traumatic shedding /shock loss. Any way it heals and hair regrow in 4-5 months of hair restoration surgery .I hope you will get your donor area back .

David Perez-Meza, MD, FISHRS · Answer

You mentioned 5,000 hairs. Is that correct? or did you meant 5,000 grafts? And there is a big difference between hairs or grafts. It looks like to me 5,000 grafts. It appears over harvested at 6 weeks PO and I can think about telogen effluvium of the donor area too. So, I will suggest you to do NOTHING, I won't recommend SMP at this PO time too. I will recommend you to let the donor area to heal, regrow the existing hair then further evaluation in the following months (3 and 6 and more months PO). Good luck.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Your donor area is clearly over-harvested and this will be a problem that only scalp microopigmentation can solve, see below for solution:

I went to Turkey 6 weeks ago and had my HT, they extracted 5000 hairs. Is my hair over harvested? (photo)

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